Feeling (A)live Again with Lights in Chicago
Written by: AJ Bloom
As someone who overcomplicates everything, it was a thrill to feel alive again experiencing Lights onstage at her sold out show in Chicago, IL on 5/27/2025. She brought the perfect combination of energy, nostalgia, and talent that made for a performance that was nothing short of magical.
Before Lights even stepped into the audience’s view, it was apparent that she knew how to command the space. As the opening notes to Day Two hummed through the speakers, I felt the anticipation build around me. It was as if we could feel her standing backstage, smiling to herself, waiting for her cue with a full understanding of the power she held in that moment. Day Two transitioned into Damage, and the cheers from the crowd overpowered the music. Lights walked out onstage like she’d done this a million times before, and we were all headed down the rabbit hole. Damage was the first single released off of Lights’ most recent album, A6, but the crowd knew the words just the same as they knew the words to Siberia.
While Damage has the benefit of having been out longer than the rest of the album, the same energy was brought for songs that weren’t released until April and May of 2025. From the midwest-emo-influenced Ghost Girl On First to the groovy dance beat of Clingy, the crowd was not silent for a single song. Their dedication to memorizing lyrics that were released within the same month as the tour was pretty incredible to witness. Not every artist can claim the bragging rights to a fan base with that kind of commitment.
There’s nothing quite like the throwbacks though, and Lights brought plenty of those to the stage as well. Taking a moment to reflect on her time as an artist, Lights noted how sometimes she looks back on things she’s written and doesn’t relate anymore. However, she’s taken that and learned to recognize the growth that she has made. This growth was evident as a stripped down version of a personal favorite of mine, Up We Go, rang throughout the venue. The gentle guitar in combination with Lights’ impressive vocal range was a true testament to what years of putting in the work to better yourself can accomplish. Hearing this song over the years has always been special for me, but hearing it in this way was something that’s going to stick with me forever.
Closing the show with the one and only Alive Again, it was a spectacular ending to a spectacular evening. Hearing the iconic “I think I’ve been overcomplicating everything, I just wanna feel alive again” being repeated back in unison was everything that live music is meant to be about. After experiencing Lights in action, it’s safe to say that it’s no surprise that the tour sold out almost immediately after going on sale. This show was one for the books, and it will be remembered adoringly by all who attended.
